Allegheny Technologies Inc. (ATI) announced a realignment of its business segments to further enhance its position as a leading specialty materials manufacturer and to accelerate sustainable long-term profitable growth. Starting with first-quarter 2020 financial results, ATI will report in two business segments: a streamlined High Performance Materials & Components (HPMC) segment and the new Advanced Alloys & Solutions (AA&S) segment.

Gasbarre Thermal Processing Systems received three separate orders for batch steam-treating equipment. The batch steam treaters produce an oxide layer that promotes corrosion- and wear-resistance properties and provides an attractive surface finish. The three unique orders range in size from 18 to 30 inches in diameter and 12 to 48 inches deep. The gross load weight capacity ranges from 300 to 1,800 pounds. The electrically heated equipment has a maximum operating temperature rating of 1400°F.

Nucor Corp. awarded SMS group a follow-up order for the supply of reheat and heat-treatment facilities for its plate mill being built in Brandenburg, Ky. Nucor previously ordered a slab-casting machine for the new mill from SMS group in 2019. The follow-up contract is for all of the plate mill’s slab and ingot reheat equipment, a heat-treatment line for heavy plate up to 14 inches (356 mm) thick and a continuous heat-treatment line for plate between 0.19 and 14 inches (4.8 and 102 mm) thick and up to 168 inches (4,267 mm) wide.

Solar Atmospheres purchased and commissioned a Hitachi scanning electron microscope (SEM). The FlexSEM1000 II will allow the commercial heat treater to meet customer needs, such as strict requirements for low-level contamination from carbon, oxygen and/or nitrogen post heat treating. In addition, the SEM will enable Solar to fulfill materials characterization and microstructural determination requests beyond basic metallography and hardness testing. This investment is a response to the changing needs of Solar’s customers.

Advanced Heat Treat Corp. (AHT) added gas nitriding to its Nadcap accreditation. The Waterloo, Iowa-based heat-treat service provider has held Nadcap accreditation for ion nitriding since 2013.

This article is a Q & A with Rune Strand regarding ExpaniteHard-Ti. Strand is project manager and material scientist at Expanite A/S, and he holds an MSc in material science and manufacturing. He has spent most of his career in the field of surface hardening and heat treatment of stainless steel.

Andritz received an order from Slovenia’s SIJ Metal Ravne for the supply of a complete heat-treatment plant, including two double-chamber furnaces, a charging machine, high-volume quenching tanks and an automation system. Commissioning is scheduled for the second quarter of 2021. Each double-chamber furnace consists of a high-temperature furnace (1202-2228°F) with recuperative burners and a low-temperature furnace (392-1526°F) with forced circulation. Both furnace types meet the qualifications for AMS 2750E. The charging machine is designed as a portal-type unit for handling charging material up to 25 tons.

L&L Special Furnace Co. Inc. shipped a floor-standing forging furnace and a floor-standing tempering furnace to a manufacturer of medical implant components located in the northeastern U.S. The forging furnace has working dimensions of 48 inches wide x 24 inches high x 24 inches deep and a maximum operating temperature of 1800°F (982°C). The parts that are blanks are heated in the furnace. Once at temperature, they are moved to the hot-forming press and formed into the required shape. The electrical heating system provides a clean atmosphere with no products of combustion that could affect the workload.

Abbott Furnace Company received an order for an electrically heated, continuous-belt calcine furnace from a multinational corporation that specializes in producing chemicals and precious metals and operates in more than 30 countries. Abbott Furnace will design, manufacture and install the industrial furnace, which is rated at 1850°F (1010°C) and includes an 18-inch-wide Inconel belt, silicon-carbide muffle and data-acquisition system. It will be delivered in the second quarter of 2020.

Bill Gornicki has been named director of sales at ECM USA Inc. in Pleasant Prairie, Wis. Gornicki has 30 years of heat-treat industry experience and has previously worked at Diablo Furnaces, ALD Vacuum Systems and Ipsen. His experience in low-pressure vacuum carburizing will further company equipment sales with project forecasting, development and management. He will also contribute market analysis, technical papers and advertising for the U.S. and Canada markets.